Friday, April 2, 2010

April 2nd is World Autism Awareness Day, a time to educate, and realize the importance of early diagnosis and intervention. WAAD is also a time to celebrate and honor the unique talents and skills that people with autism bring to communities around the world.

Autism is a variation in neurological functioning of the human brain. People representing the autistic spectrum have a different way of social interaction, learning, communication, and emotional perception as opposed to the neurotypical majority in society. About 6 in 1,000 people is autistic, and they are a testament to the neurodiversity within our society. Autistic people often have many challenges, and many require assistance in their daily lives, but they have a unique and unknown culture to the rest of society.

In keeping with blog tradition, here is WAAD with a queer-centric twist to honor and help educate about the LGBTQ minority within the autistic population. There are also reports and scientific research to support the notion that a significant number of people with Autism/Asperger's are non heterosexual ie: gay, asexual, transgender, and/or intersex.

Haha, awesome, the first video was something I made two years ago, back when I thought I had asperger's. I actually have a non-verbal learning disability, which is similar but not on the autism spectrum. I'm honored. :)

Thanks for the list, this would be good to discuss with my mentor from Aspire, who isn't an autie/aspie, but is gay, I myself am bi (and an aspie). I'm wondering what the presence of AS individuals is at LGBT pride, I would think that some might find the experience to be a sensory overload, but not everyone is the same, I'm certainly going.

You should really check out my talk show tomorrow night. I am a bi-sexual male Autistic and I am doing a show on Autism and one of my segments is being Autistic and gay. If you would like to come listen or even CALL in with your thoughts you can come to www.blogtalkradio.com/madashatter the show starts at 8:00pm Eastern and is 90 minutes long!

Wow, thanks! Perhaps the GLBT constituency isn't as closed-minded as I thought. For the longest time, I felt shunned by that group because I was on the autistc spectrum, but it seems that finally someone gets it. I'm proud to be a TS Aspie.

Awesome, thanks for this. :)As an adult, genderqueer, bisexual woman with Asperger's, I often feel invisible. There's just so little acknowledgment of the existence of diversity within Autism.I run into people, frequently, who seem to believe that all people with Autism are asexual little boys who behave like the Rainman.

I really should check your blog more often - only saw this post today! Thanks so much for acknowledging Autism Awareness Month and LGBT autistics. I'm a queer Aspie woman raising 2 children who are also on the spectrum. Over the last few days, I've discovered a number of people like me, and it's very affirming.

P.S. The first link for "Gay and Lesbian Aspies" leads to an online gaming casino. I found an updated link here: http://www.assupportgrouponline.org/gaylesbianaspies.htm

Thanks for this blogpost and for the useful links. I am a staff member supporting adults with autism/Asperger syndrome and I identify as queer. Many members of the charity who have ASC identify as being LGBTQ. Many do not. The point is that the autistic community is as diverse as any community - if not MORE so. I feel that people with an ASC tend to follow their own hearts and minds rather than being 'bogged down' by tradition, gender roles and society's expectations as NT people can sometimes be. There are also parallels between the ASC experience and the queer experience. Both are now thought to be 'different ways of being' rather than being 'illnesses' as was previously the case. Thanks again for this post! ; )